Council Highlights April 26 & May 10

Town of Bonnyville

Regular Council Meeting Highlights

April 26 & May 10

ASSESSMENTS: Accurate Assessment Group Ltd. made a delegation to Council regarding property assessments, which is the process of assigning a dollar value to a property for taxation purposes, within the municipality. When compared to 2020, the assessments done for 2021 saw a $20,885,610 increase to $1.146-million. Residential assessments dropped by roughly $9.57-million, while non-residential properties saw a jump of about $12.58-million. The prediction made by the Bob Daudelin, the representative from Accurate Assessment Group, was that he was cautiously optimistic that Bonnyville would see an increase in residential assessments next year as other municipalities have seen recently.

TAX RATE BYLAW: The 2022 Tax Rate Bylaw was given three readings by Council during the May 10 Regular Meeting. The overall mill rate increase is 3.56 per cent for Residential, 4.03 per cent for Multi-Family Residential, and a decrease of 1.43 per cent for Non-Residential. The mill rate for Residential Properties has increased overall by 0.35357 mills due to an increase in the school and seniors requisition, the two per cent municipal tax dollar increase, as well as a decrease in residential assessments. The mill rate for Multi-Family Residential Properties has increased overall by 0.38357 mills due to an increase in the school and seniors requisition, along with the two per cent municipal tax dollar increase and the decrease in multi-family assessments. The mill rate for Non-Residential Properties has decreased by 0.21293 mills, even though there was an increase in school and seniors requisition, along with the two per cent municipal tax dollar increase, the increase in Non-Residential assessments off-set a non-residential mill rate increase.

JESSIE LAKE TRAIL LIGHTING: The lighting of the Jessie Lake Trail will be getting underway this year. Council passed a motion to award Phase 3 of the project in the amount of $232,311 during their April 26 Regular Meeting. The overall scope is to install trail lighting from 66^th St. to Gurneyville Rd. (55^th St.), along with the north side of Jessie Lake from 55^th St. to the end of the trail by Little Leap Park. The project has been split into three phases. Phase 1 would start at Lakeshore Drive and Gurneyville Rd. and would end by the hospital. The second phase will extend from the first phase limits and continue to the end of the trail by the Little Leap Park. The final phase will go to the newest portion of the trail from Gurneyville Rd. to 66^th St. and to the dog park. Administration suggested beginning with Phase 3 this year and completing Phase 1 and 2 next year to ensure lighting didn’t just stop in certain areas if there was a pause in the phases. In line with applying for grants to assist with paying for the whole project, Council passed a motion on May 10 to provide a letter of support for the Town’s application under the Canada Community Revitalization Fund to Alberta Western Economic Diversification for the Trail Lighting Project.

MIDTOWN MOTEL: Council gave first reading to Land Use Amendment Bylaw No. 1531-22 to allow the new owner of the old Midtown Motel to convert the building from a motel to an assisted living for seniors and persons with disabilities facility. A rezoning of the property was required to change it to Institutional District. Administration will now advertise and a public hearing is set for Tuesday, May 24, 2022.

PORTAGE COLLEGE: Nancy Broadbent and Robin Tizzard with Portage College gave Council an overview of the programs offered to students and their plans to expand classes in the future during the April 26 Regular Meeting. A nursing degree program could soon be coming to the area from Portage and they’re hoping to find partners for this program in Bonnyville.

DONATIONS: Council approved several donations during the April 26 meeting, including a $1,000 contribution to the Bonnyville Oilmen’s Society 40^th Annual Golf Tournament, a ‘Hole Sponsorship’ package and a table for four for $1,000 at the Ronald McDonald House Charities Golf Tournament, and two tables at the cost of $1,600 to the RCMP Regimental Ball. A motion was passed during the May 10 Regular Meeting to purchase two tickets to Portage College’s Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Distinguished Artist Awards Gala Dinner on Saturday, June 11, 2022. Council also approved a request for a $1,000 sponsorship for the 2022 U19B Ladies Fastball Provincial Championship, which is being held in Town from July 8 to 10, 202, and approved providing $250 for the Community Futures Lakeland Lemonade Day.